A YORK-based supplier of medical equipment has been bought out by a Hull-based distributor.

EMKADO is to acquire York Medical Technologies in a deal supported by £400,000 funding from Santander Corporate & Commercial.

Founded in 2004 by Dr Dean Moss and Dr Stephen Blight, York Medical Technologies has grown to become an established supplier of quality surgical instruments and consumables to both the NHS and the private sector.

From its based in Shiptonthorpe, the firm will now become part of EMIKADO, which was set up in 2012 by founders Karl Douglas and Emre Kafadar, who left positionsSmith & Nephew to form their own company.

Over the past two years, the business has grown rapidly in the UK health sector, winning a number of contracts with various NHS trusts, and in May this year secured the contract to supply five million needles to the NHS supply chain for the UK Government’s pandemic influenza preparedness programme.

The combined firm will employ 10 people and plans to hire additional full-time and part-time sales reps, as well as an intern role being made permanent, over the coming months.

Mr Douglas and Mr Kafadar said: “We are confident that the acquisition of York Medical Technologies will allow us to achieve economies of scale and leverage our combined resources, helping us to grow the business quicker and more effectively.”

Paul Atkinson, Relationship Director, Santander Corporate & Commercial, said: “Since establishing EMKADO in 2012, Karl and Emre have rapidly grown the business and created a strong customer base. We are delighted to support the next stage of EMKADO’s success story with this important acquisition.”